[SSgtjrobertson]

This interesting quick little read I happened across while conducting an experiment on increased fuel trims due to higher E content makes a few good points. If modifying our current commercially available fuels with higher ethanol content (over the advertised "up to 10%") reduced dangerous polluting chemicals, increased performance (efficiency) and helps to stretch a precious resource why the increased push to EV? We are struggling with our infrastructure as it is.

But we still have land for growing...

 

[SSgtjrobertson]

PDF version

 

[SSgtjrobertson]

You can sure tell that article comes from a pro-ethanol point of view. There's a lot of misinformation in the article.

What would you claim is mis-information?

 

[SSgtjrobertson]

While I like the fact that it might give you a bit more octane/oomph, and perhaps shaving a few cents off prices. Still, I don’t believe it’s wise to be burning up our food supply, especially now, given the fertilizer shortages. Food prices are going to suck this coming Autumn. Unless they’re going to be using corn that’s no fit for human or livestock consumption.

Unfortunately we import the bulk of everything now. Two of our largest sod farmers in the area now dedicated the bulk of their fields to growing soy beans that are subsidized federally.

We need to decided. Either we import everything or we begin to use our own resources to rebuild. Domestic oil, natural gas, low yield waste nuclear power all of it, Hemp! Any and all of it.

EV vehicles are absolutely a great idea, but batteries in their current form destroy the environment and tax an aging and strained electrical infrastructure. Solar is weak. Wind is unreliable, hydro electric is location limited.
Everything need to be openly explored and used to its fullest advantage. Other countries produce coal, ship that coal to China in fossil fuel burning ships, China burns that coal to produce the solar panels our country subsidizes and then ship it to us on more fossil fuel burning ship and aircraft. And we then create more government programs to give them away and pat ourselves on the back at the zero net emissions equipment we installed...

I remember sitting in line as a little kid in the gas lines of the 70's and I also know what's about to follow if we don't change direction and fast.

 

[SSgtjrobertson]

I agree. I'll spend more money to buy goods made here. With so much of the **** sent overseas we need to. "Global economy" they say. I like how were expected to help everyone else but who's going to help us when we drive our economy into the ****ter by not taking care of our own?


This is why I like weather tech so much. They have the same mindset and even purchase their shelving and forklifts from American companies. Granted, the racks might or might not be made from overseas steel, and the forklifts are probably made with at least a percentage of overseas parts (electronics). But that's nearly unavoidable at this stage in the game. If we're conscious about it maybe we can make ECMs and stuff here and can be totally self reliant

Also need to really begin to protect intellectual property as well. too much is contracted overseas for manufacturing only to be cloned and sold out from under us.

 

[SSgtjrobertson]

Ethanol blends have been a matter of scientific debate from way back, with the carbon footprint being one of the main bones of contention.

In 2006 a Berkeley team found that corn ethanol blends were better than gasoline, but not by much, comparing corn to cellulosic ethanol (produced from non-edible botanical biomass such as corn stalks, switchgrass, wood, and so on), where cellulosic ethanol has a lower impact. They encouraged technological development in the latter area, where enzymes are necessary to break down the plant fibers: cellulose, hemicellulose, lignins, and so on, into fermentable sugars. Engineered fungi have been used to produce cellulase enzymes capable of hydrolyzing these plant polymers and structural components rapidly enough to make this method practical. Another method is acid hydrolysis. Specially engineered yeast have also been developed that secrete the enzymes to break down the fibers and then ferment the resulting sugars. Bacteria have also been used.

Ethanol from corn is still the most widely produced.

Since the Berkeley study, there have been many more that either support corn ethanol blends or condemn them:

Corn ethanol reduces carbon footprint, greenhouse gases | Argonne National Laboratory

www.anl.gov

Building the Evidence on Corn Ethanol’s Greenhouse Gas Profile

Over the past two decades, the demand for renewable fuels — including corn-based ethanol — has helped drive a strong domestic market for corn, and supported rural America by generating jobs (PDF, 1.5 MB). New research is confirming that corn ethanol also has more greenhouse gas benefits than...

www.usda.gov

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2101084119

I'm sure the final word has yet to be written...

But this is the point exactly. We have recently adopted a policy of cut working forms of energy and work towards more efficient form on the back end.

Hemp is something that is ignored all together. Pulls toxins from the soil, produces extreme strong fibers, edible portions as almost a perfect protein, can be used to make biodegradable plastics, biofuels, medicine, the list is endless.

We have real alternatives to our problems that we constantly ignore because we let a fringe group of individuals mandate what is best.

Let the scientists and dreamers innovative. Let the tradesmen design and build. Let the farmers plow and grow. Bring the real solutions to actual problems of the world. Working from the fact the nothing in left is perfect but always strive to reach it through determination and hard work.

Yes bring me zero emissions vehicles that do resemble a vibrator! But in the mean time Drill baby Drill!

 

[SSgtjrobertson]

PS--I hasten to add that I'm a huge fan of ethanol blends, especially E85. I have three E30 tunes. When I lived in the South Bay of LA there were two E85 stations within a 5 mile radius of my home.

Here in TX, they are few and far between...and the composition isn't 85% year 'round as it is in Cali. I'm running a new 93 octane tune here, since any E85 is too far away....

I'm blessed to have E85 available to me year round at just about every station. And our 93 tests over 10% (11 - 12)